Monday, January 30, 2012

I realized as I was running out the door to pick the kiddieos up from school that it's been awhile since our last "talk". So here I am, blogging from my phone in the car while I wait for the school bell to ring. I haven't had much of a chance to go exploring lately (haven't even been on pinterest...*gasp!*) so I'll just share with you the cute little project I finished today.

Its a pixie/elf hat :0). These are so cute! This one will fit a 6-12 month old, made of Peaches and Creme - avocado and Red Heart - soft pink.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

I am soooo sad to see that Picnik is shutting down! I have been looking for a very long time to find a photo editing software the does more than simply crop and rotate, that also doesn't cost a months salary. (OK, that may be a bit exaggerated, but it sure feels like it!) I finally came across this wonderful online site called Picnik that has just about everything I could ask for, and now it's shutting down. I say Booooo! and Hissss! to that. I'm sure they have a good reason to be shutting down such a wonderful, helpful service and I wish them the best, but man! I'm bummed.

Well, I guess onto what prompted this little pity me party.

Here are some pic's of some of the new things being added to Honeybee Boutique. Hope you like them, and go by the Etsy shop and check them out :o) (you can just click on the mini etsy shop on the right hand side of the blog page and it'll take you right there!)

Monday, January 16, 2012

I came across her blog post when I was wandering around looking for new and interesting things to crochet. And I have to say, Sharon, You're a genius!!!

This was my very first yarn stash :o)

This technique for making a yarn ball is the simplest and best thing I think I've learned in my crochet adventures to date. (Well, besides actually learning TO crochet...lol) I love my yarn balls, they look so pretty and organized, almost like decor :o)

But, what I don't love quite as much is watching my cat chase my yarn across the room as it slips out of my hands in the process of rolling. Let me tell you...darn cute the first time. ONLY the first time.

Not only does this technique eliminate the dropping, but you need nothing other than something EVERYONE has in their house right now.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

I came across this neat website today and I wanted to share with everyone! For those of you in the know ;O), Zulilly.com is a great shop with AMAZINGLY cute and unique things at huge discount prices. (Check it out from the button link on the side bar). Well the new site I discovered is called Blitsy.com It is the same concept as Zulilly, but with CRAFT SUPPLIES!!!!! It's still in its grand opening period, and if you do ANY sort of crafty stuff, you should check it out. Deals change every week, all brand name and designer companies.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

I just wanted to share this quick tutorial I found this morning... I have found a lot of instructions on how to make a pom pom, but some you need to purchase a pom pom maker for, some tell you to get a piece of cardboard, etc. But the tutorial found here at crochetspot.com is the easiest by far! You don't need a single material more than your yarn and scissors. Check it out! <3 Melissa

Monday, January 9, 2012

Today my daughter and some of her friends started in a cheerleading clinic at school with the WHS Cheer Squad. The little stinkers are so cute! It's hard to believe these kids are old enough already. Such big little girls they are!
I don't have much new going on with my crochet, been working on filling orders. I've also been scouring the internet trying to get inspiration for my hubby's best friend's wedding in April. It is a Steampunk theme and I am soooo excited to put together my little lady's outfit. She's gonna be adorable! :o) My son on the other hand is going to be tougher to come up with something I can pull off inexpensively. Any suggestions for a 7 yr.old boy are welcome!

So, here are some pictures from cheer clinic, just because they're cuuuuute!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Well, I have been spending so much time organizing and revamping the blog that I haven't done any crochet work in 3 days! OH NO! So, today i am just going to send a shout out to a couple of Blogs I think you should check out.

I have been swooning over pictures of similar baby booties thinking these would be perfect for my 5 year old, they are so HER. But I had some major obsticles.

1) All the patterns that are for sale are for babies

2) Because of #1 they are entirely yarn, 'cause, well, babies are adorable in slippers. :0) I want my daughters to be real shoes. ones she can wear outside, out and about. They are just TOO ADORABLE to spend their entire lives in the house, hidden away.and lastly,

3) did I really want to spend money on a pattern that was not what I really wanted?

So, to work I went. It took some time, and a few do overs, but I think I got it pretty well! I only have one done so far and she wants to wear it. No cares about not having one for the other foot.... silly lady. I would love to start selling these in the shop, but it's going to take creating a pattern and alot more practice so I can figure out the best, fastest way to work these out. But once I get the kinks out it's on!

Yesterdays entry had me so excited I got started right away. My Kindergartener is soooo thrilled, this one change made her room seem so much more like a big girl room. It's now a place of her own where she can be alone when she wants to. I'M soooo thrilled because i tackled one of my most aggravating daily "yucks" in the process!

The story:My children have decided that when tidying their rooms, to clean up the clothes and shoes means to toss them onto the floor of their closets.. And if that wasn't aggravating enough? (This is where my pet peeve comes in....) THEY NEVER SHUT THE DOORS! I am forever walking into their rooms saying "Shut your closet door!" Well, not in my daughters room, not any more.

The transformation: (sorry, i didn't think to take before pictures. live and learn...)It still looks a bit on the messy side, I was so excited I just went through like a whirling dervish and threw everything out of the closet and started with a blank slate. keep that in mind when you look at the pictures, lol. Plus, i say it's probably more like step 3/4 because I really intend to paint, stencil, SOMETHING on the walls to spice it up a bit. But for now, the posters will do....

I stole my hubby's tie rack (love youbabe :D) which now hangs above the small set of drawers to hold all her many, many purses. The dresses are (semi) hidden behind that. The pink hanging shelves are for school outfits (5 slots) and the bottom few can hold special treasures (at the moment bubble wrap left over from some Christmas presents).

Next... I grabbed one of her many blankets, and a few of her zillion pillows and made her a little reading nook/relaxing space all of her own.

And now for MY favorite part!

I removed the door and hung the lacy curtains along the door frame. Now it looks "super duper fancy" and there will be no more door angst. Yes! The curtains are tied back with ribbon and can be closed if she wants privacy.

The walls are not as i envision, needs to be more "designed", but until I get paint or stencils, or wall paper, these posters will do. ...

So that's it! I will leave you with one final picture and a thought... Making something beautiful goes a long way! I have discovered that in the process of making something special I didn't mind purging things that didn't fit into my "vision". As I said in my last post, the hardest thing for this family is letting things go. Every time I thnk "I can't get rid of that!" I vow to go stand in front of my 5 year olds special place and snap out of it.

Thanks for checking out my blog, hope to talk to you soon! <3 Melissa

p.s. She slept in there last night and has had to be tempted with various things to get her to come out. I think I did alright.... ;O)

See the final picture, let me know what you think! Do you have any ideas for spaces?

Friday, January 6, 2012

"Give yourself permission to let go of the things that aren't helping you to build an extraordinary life. You and I aren't here on this earth to amass a home full of meaningless junk and earthly treasures.

And while you're at it, give yourself permission to keep the things that matter to you. Keep the things you use to live and serve, love and create. Keep the things that inspire and delight. Keep the things that remind you of past seasons of your life or that fill you with excitement for the future. Keep these things without reservation or guilt."

This is exactly how I'm feeling right now! We have entirely too much stuff. You would think that having all the things you want would make you happy, right? Well, lemme tell you, I am finding that the more you get, the more you want, and that leads to a never ending road of frustration. I need to simplify this crazy house, so the family can enjoy each other, instead of spending all our "free" time tidying up, or looking for a mispaced shoe that has found a FANTASTIC hiding place under the doll bed, behind the bulletin board that is propped up on the floor because we are searching for the box of nails that is needed to hang it up on the wall. Phew. See what I mean? So, this is going to be the hardest thing for me to do, the ENTIRE family consists of pack rats and "i may need this!"-ers, but we need a purge! A new fresh, uncluttered, simplified house.

Then maybe I can start on New Years resolution #2...... Finally making this house a home. We have all the necessities (and MUCH more), now it's time to finally decorate this house! We built it 3 years ago and STILL the only rooms that have more than builders primer paint on them are the kids rooms. After purging and painting and prioritizing this will be the best year yet. Bring on 2012!

(ok. So now who wants to help me keep this butt in gear? Berating is always a helpful motivater....lol)

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About Me

I have been married for 10 years (as of Oct. 2011) and have two children who are 7 and 5. I am, I suppose, a stay at home mom.... but this is what I really do:

* PTO Treasurer

* Daisy Scout Leader

*Wolf Den Mother

*Cub Scout Pack Treasurer

*Volunteer at my kids' school every Thursday

*Care giver for two wonderfully cute girls (5 and 10) 3 days a week

*Way more involved in Farmville and Castleville than I should be, lol

*Blogger, to keep me sane

*Owner/Operator/sole employee ;O) of Honeybee Boutique Crochet - This is really the main sanity saver...when all my other events are on pause, it's so relaxing to just sit and make something adorable. I am also starting a collaboration with the owners of Stephanie Rose Photography so be on the look out for adorable photo props used in amazing pictures!

But the most important aspect in my little corner of the world is my amazing family. Man, we're all getting old too fast! lol Time with them is Priceless.